Chiefs training camp report, July 30: No surprises among starters

The highlights from Saturday’s day in Chiefs camp, along with an injury report and Sunday’s schedule.

THE OFFENSE

Practice began with light rain that quickly leveled off …

Chiefs coach Andy Reid will move players up and down the depth chart throughout camp, but there were no surprises with the first Saturday, as all the starters were exactly who Reid said they would be back in late June. Parker Ehinger got the nod at left guard, joining left tackle Eric Fisher, center Mitch Morse, right guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and right tackle Mitch Schwartz, while young receivers Chris Conley and Albert Wilson were the primary first-string receivers along with Jeremy Maclin. Charcandrick West took the first-string reps at running back with Jamaal Charles and Spencer Ware absent, while tight end Ross Travis will get the first crack at being the third tight end in the Chiefs’ heavy package ahead of James O’Shaughnessy and Brian Parker. Travis caught a lot of passes today and looked very fluid and athletic. Jah Reid, a starter at right tackle last year who might be a potential starting guard candidate, is the second-string right tackle …

Never miss a local story.

Sign up today for a free 30 day free trial of unlimited digital access.

Tyler Bray got the majority of the second-string work at quarterback ahead of Aaron Murray, just like he did during organized team activities …

The first-string offense was solid today, as the ball rarely hit the ground …

Quarterback Alex Smith connected on his first 10 passes over the course of three 11-on-11 sessions. His first incompletion was due to a trip by Jeremy Maclin, but he finished the day 11 of 13 anyway …

Conley made a one-handed catch on a crossing route …

Bray finished the day 6 of 6 with the No. 2 offense (excluding his work against the first-team defense). Murray did, too …

A big reason for the high completion percentages was the heavy work on the screen game the team did. There was one particular period in where the Chiefs worked entirely on screens …

Receiver Rod Streater — who saw most of his work with the second unit but occasionally rotated in the first team along with Frankie Hammond and De’Anthony Thomas — had a nice contested short catch during the hurry-up session …

Tyreek Hill made a nice catch on an in-breaking route when he elevated over the middle to haul in a high pass …

Kicker Cairo Santos made all eight of his field goal attempts.

THE DEFENSE

Again, there were no surprises among the day one first-stringers, as the units looked identical to the ones they showed in OTAs. The starting interior defensive line included Jaye Howard, Dontari Poe and Allen Bailey, while the starting linebacker corps included Derrick Johnson, Josh Mauga, Frank Zombo and Dee Ford. Ford and Zombo got first-string work because outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston were absent. Steven Nelson got the nod in the base defense at right corner opposite Marcus Peters, though he shifted inside to the slot position in nickel when Phillip Gaines assumed the position. Ron Parker and Daniel Sorensen were the starting safeties, with Stevie Brown coming in and Sorensen occasionally shifting down to linebacker in nickel …

Second-round rookie Chris Jones got some work with the second team at defensive end, while third-rounder KeiVarae Russell played right corner with the second team and got some work in as a backup nickel/slot corner. Sixth-rounder D.J. White saw some time as slot corner, while fourth-rounder Eric Murray continued to spend all his time at safety …

Nelson jumped a short route — perhaps a curl — that appeared to be intended for Tyreek Hill and returned it for a would-be pick-6 …

Peters also jumped a short route, this time on a throw by Tyler Bray, and returned it for a would-be pick-6 …

Parker had a nice diving breakup on a slant pattern.

INJURY REPORT

Outside linebackers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali were placed on the physically unable to perform list, joining running back Jamaal Charles. Houston, Hali and Charles were not present at Saturday’s practice, though all three players are in St. Joseph. Running back Spencer Ware did not practice due to a sickness. Eric Berry still has not reported due to his contract situation.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

Practice at 8:15 a.m. There will be a team autograph session afterward.